From Real Cycles Blog
Over the years the bike trade has picked up a few odd habits, not least the one of bringing out new versions of every bike every year, even if the only difference is the colour of the paint. In some instances a new version each year makes sense: High end stuff develops at such a rate bikes at this end of the sport need to change yearly to stay current, but for entry level? Does it really make sense?
The date these bikes generally get launched is odd too. Years ago the next seasons bikes came out at the start of the year. In the rush to be the first to launch manufacturers bought this forward into the previous year. To the point some brands were bringing out their new 2010 bikes in July 2009. Daft.
The result of all this madness is for the rider buying their new bike at the start of the Summer, the time of year newcomers to the sport tend to purchase, within a matter of months they’re new ride is considered last years. Not good.
Commencal have been aware of this, and have never been happy about it. Sure they’re constant development on the upper end bikes have meant a one year shelf life has worked for them, but on the cheaper stuff, why keep replacing something just for the sake of replacing it?
Well, from this year on, they’re going to do the sensible thing. From this summer onwards the entry level range, previously known as the Combi range but now called the Premier line will not be changing every year. It’s expected each model will have at least a two year life cycle, only changing if there is a big jump forward in frame technology, with rolling changes taking place when needed to take account of component changes, from the likes of Shimano, SRAM, Etc.
In recent times a move like this has long been expected from the big players: Give a product a longer shelf life and over night the cost of that product will drop, as you can manufacture in greater quantities and don’t have to cost in the usual end of season clearance mayhem. And lower costs mean lower RRP, something welcome in these days of telephone number prices on some bikes. But none of the big brands wanted to be the first to jump, with no one wanting to be seen to be the first to change (change is bad!!!)
But Commencal have no such fears, and being a much younger and more forward thinking company decided not to wait for everyone else, seeing the obvious advantages to themselves and their customers, they jumped straight in.
Read the full article on the Real Cycles Blog
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